Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



\ No. 742,515 PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903..

C. F. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1903.

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PIATENTEID OCT. 27, 190-3.

0. F. ISTODDARD. I PNEUMATIC DESP-ATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1-903. 7

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UNITED STATES- Patented October 27, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PNEUMAT lC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,515, dated October 27, 1903. Application filed March 10, 1903. Serial N0|14:7|197- (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. STODDARD,

of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic-despatch apparatus, and espe-.

tween the two gates with the atmosphere, the

area of this port being of such a size as to spill the pressure between the two gates when it is open, so that the first gate may open to allow a carrier to pass into the chamber between the two gates.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularlyv pointed out in the claims.

In the-accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying the same, Figure l is a sectional view through the send ing-terminal and transmission-tube and airsupply tube. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of that part of the sending-terminal above the floorline. Fig. 3 is a sectional ,view through the time-locking device with the parts in their normal position. Fig. 4. is a similar View showing the position of the parts after a carrier has been sent and before another can be sent. Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe piston.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The transmission-tube Ais in communication with the supply-pipe A through the easing A provided with slots A Secured to this slotted casing is a cylinder B, composed of three chambers B Secured to the upper chamber B is B B connected to-- a chute C, and below said chute and in the upper part of the chamber B is located a valve C, pivoted at C in the chamber B and provided with a counterweight G which balances the valve 0. v

C is a weight, which holds the valve C noris a valve D, pivoted at D in the chamber B and provided with a counterweight D and the weight D which holds the valve D normally closed. These two valves 0 and D act as an air-lock for the cylinder, and in the operation only one is open at a time, and normally both are closed. The by-pass E communicates with the sender at E and with the line-pressure in the chamber B of the sender at E for the purpose of giving the same pressure in the chamber between the two gates as in the line in order to normally keep the valve closed tightly.

The time-lock F is pivoted at F on the exterior of the cylinder and consists of a shell J, closed at both ends. Within said shell is a piston K, provided with a piston-rod K, which extends out through the upper head of the cylinder and is provided on its upper end with the pin K adapted to work in the slot K in the hollow shaft F and its object is to unlock the latches K pivoted on the plate K against the tension of the springs K at a predetermined time after the carrier has been sent. The pin K also engages the shoulder K on the lower part of the shaft F so that when the hollow shaft F is pulled out the piston rod K moves out with it against the tension of the spring K bearing at one end against the upper head and at its lower end against the piston K.

The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3, with the pin K resting on the shoulder K of the hollow shaft Khwith the latches away from engagement with the shoulder K so that the shoulder is free to move out and carry with it thepiston-rod K when the ma chine is operated to despatch a carrier. The hollow shaft F is connected at F to the arm F having a number of holes F and the end of this hollow shaft may be adjustably secured to said arm for the purpose of determining the length of stroke which the shaft mally closed. In the top of the chamber B F shall be given when the valve 0 is opened to allow the pressure to spill outof the chamber between the two gates, the connection at the upper part of the rod giving the shortest time and the one at the lowest end of the arm giving the longest time. For operating the hollow shaft F in the time-lock F there is provided an arm F pivotally secured to the arm F at F, and to said arm at F is pivoted the link F pivoted at F on the chute O for holding the arm F up. The upper end of the arm F is provided with a handle G. The upper end of the arm F is pivoted at H to the link 11, which in turn is pivoted at H on the valve-casing containing the gatevalve H which valve is raised and lowered by the rod H pivotally connected at H to the arm F In the time-locking device K is a piston with a number of holes L (Shown in Fig. 5.) L is a cap, which is secured to the piston K by the pins L, so that it acts as a check-valve, closing the ports L as the piston K is forced to the lower end by the spring K As the piston K moves to the upper end of the cylinder the cap L moves away from the piston K, thereby opening the ports L The pins L are secured to the cap L and pass through the piston K for the purpose of preventing the cap L from getting entirely away from the piston K. The shoulder L on the pin L engages the piston K when the cap L is moved to its extreme distance. The cylinder J is filled with oil, which passes through the ports L as the piston moves forward against the spring K As the spring K forces the piston back to the lower end of the cylinder the oil leaks around the piston K, which is not fitted tightly into the cylinder J. The chambers B B form the sender of this apparatus, and, as previously described, this sender is normally closed at both ends by suitable outer valve 0 and inner valve D.

The operation is as follows: A carrier is placed upon the chute O and rests against the gate C. The arm F is then pulled up, which opens the gate H and allows the pressure to spill out of the chamber between the two gates, thereby relieving the pressure from the under side of the gate 0. When the carrier has opened the gate 0, the arm F is pushed back, so that it closes the exhaustvalve H shutting 01f the exhaust-port of the chamber between the two gates. The carrier slides down into the chamber between the two gates and rests against the lower gate D. The line-pressure flows through the bypass E into the chamber between the gates until the pressure is equalized, thereby relieving the pressure from the under side of the gate D. The carrier by its weight then opens the gate D and passes through the grated T A into the line. WVhen the arm F is pulled up to open the gate H it brings with it the hollow shaft F upon which is the shoulder K which engages the pin K and brings with it the shaft K, attached to the piston K. When the arm F is pushed back, closing the port H, the hollow shaft F goes back into the position shown in Fig. 4, and the latches K lock it in that position. The piston-shaft K moves back to the position shown in Fig. 3 in a predetermined time, which is fixed by the leakage of the oil around the piston K. This makes it impossible to open the valve H again before that predetermined time elapses, so that another carrier cannot be despatched until this time has elapsed. When the pin K reaches the latches K it raises them to the shoulder K so that the hollow shaft F is free to move for the next operation.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing an equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaust-port from said sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valve controlling said port, mechanism for opening said exhaust-valve to allow the pressure to escape from the sender for releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender, and mechanism for closing said exhaust-valve to permit the pressure in the senderand transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier byits weight will open the said inner valve and enter the transmission-tube.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing an equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaust-port from said sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valve controlling said port, mechanism for opening said exhaust-valve to allow the pressure to escape from the sender for releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender, and mechanism for closing said exhaust-valve to permit the pressure in the senderand transmission-tube tosubstantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its weight will open said inner Valve and enter the transmission-tube and to hold the outer valve closed so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape into the atmosphere while the inner valve is open.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing an equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an

exhaust-port from said sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port, mechanism for opening said exhaust-valve to allow the pressure to escape from the sender for releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrierinto the sender, mechanism for closing said exhaust.- valve to permit the pressure in the sender and transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrierby its weight will open said inner valve and enter the transmission-tube and to hold the outer valve closed so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape into the atmosphere while the inner valve is open, and a time-lock for holding the outer valve in its closed position for a predetermined time.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing an equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaust-port from said sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valve controlling said port, mechanism for opening said exhaust-valve to allow the pressure to escape from the sender for releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender, mechanism for closing said exhaustvalve to permit the pressure in the sender and transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its weight will open said inner valve and enter the transmission tube and to hold the outer valve closed so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape into the atmosphere while the inner valve is open,'and a time-lock for holding said exhaust-valve mechanism against opening said exhaustvalve for a predetermined time.

5., In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube,inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender for holding said outer valve normally closed by said pressure, mechanism for exhausting the pressure from the sender to the atmosphere for releasing the pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender, and mechanism for preventing the escape of pressure from the sender to cause equalization of pressure in the sender and the transmissiontube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its weight will open said inner valve and enter the transmission-tube.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube,inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender for holding said outer valve normally closed by said pressure, mechanism for exhausting the pressure from the sender to the atmosphere for releasing the pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into thesender, and mechanism, for preventing the escape of pressure from the sender to cause equalization of pressure in the sender and the transmissiontube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its weight will open said inner valve and enter the transmission-tube and to hold the said outer valve against opening so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape while the inner valve is open.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube,inner and outer valves normally closing said sender, means for normally producing equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender for holding said outer valve normally closed by said pressure, mechanism for exhausting the pressure from the sender to the atmosphere for releasing the pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender,mechanism for preventing the escape of pressure from the sender to cause equalization of pressure in the sender and the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its weight will open said inner valve and. enter the transmissiontube, and a time-lock for holding said exhausting mechanism against opening to the atmosphere for a predetermined time.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to said transmission-tube,inner and outer valves nor:

mally closing said sender, means for normally producing equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and the sender for holding said outer valve normally closed by said pressure, mechanism for exhausting the pressure from the sender to the atmosphere for releasing the pressure on the outer valve to permit the insertion of a carrier into the sender,mechanism for preventing the escape of pressure from the sender to cause equalization of pressure in the sender and the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner valve whereby the carrier by its own weight will open said inner valve and enter the'transmission-tube and to hold the said outer valve against opening so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape while the inner valve is open, and a time-lock for holding said exhausting mechanism against opening to the atmosphere for a predetermined time.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1903.

CHARLES E.

Witnesses:

E. L. HARLOW, A. L. MESSER.

STODDARD.

IIO 

